Interesting fast-paced space-themed racing games on Switch
After our discussion about Tempest-like games, I looked at what else could at least scratch a similar fast-paced space-theme racing, with optional shooting itch on Switch.
To kick off the discussion, these are the games I already tried that I kinda like. I‘ll update this list, once people suggest other entries. I realise it’s a bit of a mish-mash, but it’s more about the feel than a specific genre.
Fast RMX is a very fast-paced pod-racer, with a similar feel to Wipeout, if you take away the weapons, and add a boost mechanic where you need to switch your booster’s code with the speed lane. I prefer playing it with motion/gyro controls, which admittedly makes it harder to play, but with that actually feels a lot more like you’re travelling at massive speed where every unintentional jerk of the steering wheel can cause you to wipe out.
Velocity 2X is a very successful mix of a vertical shooter where time matters with added platforming levels in between. Boosting for speed and warping/teleporting to solve puzzles is a huge part of the game.
The Next Penelope is a top-down 2D (pod?) racing game with weapons, where the acceleration happens automatically, but is influenced by boost, boost markers on the track and bumping into stuff. I haven’t played it for a long time yet, but once you learn the controls it seems to be a very good game.
VSR is a pure zero-gravity, zero-friction 3D space racer. Which makes mastering the controls very hard for anyone who is not used to it. To be honest, I haven’t mastered them yet either, but haven’t given up, as I really liked RPGs and shooters with such a mechanic. It just gives a specific type of zennish “in the zone” feeling, once you get into it.
Fast RMX
price: 20 € 14 € until 2019-07-25
reviews: 81 % on MetaCritic
length: 3½ h main game (57 h completionist) on HowLongToBeart
Velocity 2X
price: 20 € 8 € until 2019-07-18
reviews: 87 % on MetaCritic
length: 5 h main game (26 h completionist) on HowLongToBeat
The Next Penelope: Race to Odysseus
price: 13 € 2 € until 2019-07-11
reviews: 79 % on MetaCritic
length: 2½ h main game (5½ h completionist) on HowLongToBeat
VSR: Void Space Racing
price: 5 €
reviews: 66 % on MetaCritic
length: (no HowLongToBeat entry yet)
Can we talk about the elephant in the room? Not-F-Zero? Just playing the F-Zero stages in Mario Kart 8 DX (at 200cc because why not!) makes me feel nostalgic. I'm not the biggest racing fan but something about the absurdity of it gets me. There's little chance we'll see a proper F-Zero but then there's the rumored StarFox themed racer "Star Fox Grand Prix", supposedly made by Retro Studios. It was "leaked" around the same time Pokemon Let's Go was, I dismissed it at first but it might as well be real. Could be a rather fresh entry for the system.
Games like Fast RMX are cute but there's something about a big, fully "produced" AAA-ish game in that space that I kinda miss.
Redout might be a decent option? I have no idea how the Switch port is, but the overall opinions of it on PC are very good.
I was eyeing it, but apparently the Switch port is awful.
I honestly did not know there are F-Zero stages in Mario Kart 8, and I have it. Truth be told, I haven’t played it a huge lot, as I only play it as couch multiplayer. Personally I prefer Fast RMX, and play MK8 with others, as it’s much easier to get into and it is a lot more fun as a party game.
… So I looked online :)
For the uneducated oafs like me, it seems there is a track called Mute City in the Egg Cup. Looks pretty cool. I may take it for a single-player spin again today. Thanks :)
There's at least one more called Big Blue! It feels like someone on the team is really nostalgic for F-Zero and this was the closest thing to working on a track for it. With the gravity-bending design, the layout is actually close to a real F-Zero track, although of course less 360°-bendy.
I want to encourage you to look into MK8 as a "real" racer. I started it up recently with no proper internet connection and no one to play with and fell into a deep hole of time-trial. It's surprisingly fun. I guess for people used to racing games, it's not that big of a challenge but it's kinda open ended, you can download some world class player ghosts to race against and whatnot.
Nice! Thank you for re-igniting my interest in Mario Kart.
I’m just worried about becoming too good when people want to couch-multiplay. Having the host always beat you when you come to their party is always a bit of a downer.
I mean, there's blue shells for that, right? ;)
Some of these look great! I'll be sure to check them out :D
If you do, Penelope's discount expires today, so hurry
And Fast RMX just got discounted 30% today.
Fast RMX is really great, but, for anyone interested in it, let the difference between the main game time and the completionist time tell the story that it is seriously difficult.
Don't get me wrong, I loved it and think it's fantastically made. When you nail a difficult track and hit the boosts and turns just right, it's thrilling. Just know that getting there can be quite tough.
Oh, very much so! It’s not really a casual racing game at all.